Period’s greatest left fielders – by G. Scott Thomas

By 1 month ago

In the event you disliked my July 27 story concerning the Fashionable Period’s greatest shortstops, you’ll positively detest at present’s entry concerning the high left fielders.

Many readers had been sad that my 10-part method established Alex Rodriguez as baseball’s preeminent shortstop in the course of the interval from 1961 by means of 2022. The identical ranking process has now proclaimed the No. 1 left fielder to be Barry Bonds, who (like Rodriguez) was extensively accused of utilizing performance-enhancing medication.

Main League Baseball hasn’t flagged, altered, or eradicated the statistical information of suspected PED abusers, and I’ve adopted MLB’s lead. Rodriguez and Bonds have been handled precisely as the identical as their opponents in these rankings, a lot to the displeasure of a few of you.

Right now’s standings doc an enormous victory for Bonds over the opposite 160 gamers who spent a minimum of 40 % of their time in left subject and made greater than 2,500 plate appearances in the course of the Fashionable Period. The method analyzed every participant’s full physique of labor, together with any stats he might need accrued at positions aside from left subject. (Click on right here to study extra concerning the ranking course of.)

No one else within the group of 161 left fielders got here near Bonds’s profession stats for slugging common (.607), bases per out (1.265), wins above alternative (162.8), and complete runs generated (3,461). And, after all, no person at any place ever blasted as many dwelling runs because the 762 that Bonds hit throughout his 22-year profession with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.

Manny Ramirez, who was twice suspended for PED abuse, is the runner-up within the rankings of left fielders. (Bonds’s document, it needs to be identified, is freed from steroid-related suspensions or convictions.) Ramirez performed 19 seasons with 5 golf equipment, primarily the Cleveland Indians and Boston Crimson Sox.

Rounding out the highest 5 are Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics (and eight different groups), Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Crimson Sox, and Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, and 4 different golf equipment.

Bonds, because the frontrunner on the place, was assigned a rating of 1,000 factors, with the figures for all different candidates being decided by their relative performances. The huge hole between Bonds and runner-up Ramirez (653 factors) displays the big distinction of their statistical information.

That is the sixth story in my weekly evaluate of the period’s biggest gamers. Observe these hyperlinks to learn earlier installments concerning the high catchers, first basemen, second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen.

Statistical breakdowns for the Fashionable Period’s high 5 left fielders will be discovered beneath, adopted by an inventory of the subsequent 15.

A brand new installment will arrive in your electronic mail every weekday morning

  • Rating: 1,000 factors

  • WAR: 162.8 complete, 6.5 per 500 PA, 7.6 defensive

  • Averages: .298 BA, .607 SLG, 1.265 BPO

  • Scoring: 3,461 R generated, 137 per 500 PA

  • Totals: 2,986 G, 2,935 H

  • Notes: The stats are merely mind-boggling. Bonds gained seven Most Precious Participant Awards within the Nationwide League, together with 4 in a row from 2001 to 2004. He earned a pair of batting crowns with averages of .370 in 2002 and .362 in 2004. He set the single-season document of 73 dwelling runs in 2001. And he was so feared that he drew greater than 100 walks in 14 seasons.

  • Rating: 653 factors

  • WAR: 69.3 complete, 3.6 per 500 PA, -21.7 defensive

  • Averages: .312 BA, .585 SLG, 1.059 BPO

  • Scoring: 2,820 R generated, 144 per 500 PA

  • Totals: 2,302 G, 2,574 H

  • Notes: Ramirez by no means gained an MVP Award, however he was a constant contender. He completed among the many American League’s high 9 vote-getters each season between 1998 and 2005. Ramirez drove dwelling greater than 100 runs in 12 totally different seasons — peaking at 165 in 1999 — and he hit greater than 40 dwelling runs on 5 events.

  • Rating: 648 factors

  • WAR: 111.2 complete, 4.2 per 500 PA, -2.3 defensive

  • Averages: .279 BA, .419 SLG, .985 BPO

  • Scoring: 3,113 R generated, 117 per 500 PA

  • Totals: 3,081 G, 3,055 H

  • Notes: Henderson bounced round (enjoying for 9 franchises over his 25-year profession), however he was no journeyman. He topped the American League 12 occasions in stolen bases and 5 occasions in runs scored. He stays MLB’s all-time chief in each classes with totals of 1,406 steals amd 2,295 runs. Henderson earned the American League’s MVP trophy in 1990.

  • Rating: 646 factors

  • WAR: 96.5 complete, 3.5 per 500 PA, 1.0 defensive

  • Averages: .285 BA, .462 SLG, .845 BPO

  • Scoring: 3,208 R generated, 115 per 500 PA

  • Totals: 3,308 G, 3,419 H

  • Notes: Yastrzemski had the sad destiny of following the immortal Ted Williams in left subject for the Crimson Sox, a seemingly not possible job that he mastered. He gained three American League batting titles. His biggest season was 1967, when he was named the AL’s Most Precious Participant after capturing the Triple Crown with 44 homers, 121 RBIs, and a .326 BA.

  • Rating: 502 factors

  • WAR: 51.6 complete, 2.5 per 500 PA, -0.7 defensive

  • Averages: .283 BA, .479 SLG, .844 BPO

  • Scoring: 2,497 R generated, 119 per 500 PA

  • Totals: 2,591 G, 2,591 H

  • Notes: Gonzalez was nothing particular throughout his first 9 seasons with the Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers. He batted .268 and hit 107 homers between 1990 and 1998. However he really blossomed after becoming a member of the Diamondbacks in 1999. He pushed his common above .300 4 occasions for Arizona, and he launched as many as 57 homers in a single season (2001).

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